Bending brake



Feb. 20, 1940. J. JENSEN ,8

SENDING BRAKE Filed June 21, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m (/0/7/7 (ye/732MPatented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT FFME 2,190,839 BENDING BRAKEJohn Jensen, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Whitney Metal Tool Company,Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 21, 1937,Serial No. 149,415

Claims.

ment thereof to accommodate it for various types of bending operations.

Another object is to provide a brake of the character described which isrugged in construction and effective in operation although economical tomanufacture.

Novelty also resides in the improved form of pivotal mounting,connection for the platen of the brake. l

Further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of abending brake embodying the invention.

Fig, 2 is an enlarged partial end elevation of the brake shown in Fig.1, said parts being sectioned along the line 2-2. i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1,illustrating particularly the position of the platen with auxiliarybending fingers attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view, in the direction of the arrows 44in Fig. 2, of the adjustment locking means for the platen.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View in section along the line 5-4 in Fig.2, illustrating particularly the construction of the pivotal mountinarrangement for the platen. 46 Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a bendingbrake provided with a modified form of adjustable mounting for theplaten embodying the invention.

The invention in the embodiment selected for purposes of illustration inFigs. 1 to 5, inclusive,

framework formed of generally rectangular end frames i0, and carrying ahorizontal bed H thereon, a platen l2 movable toward and away from thebed to clamp a sheet of metal therebetween and a pivotally mounted apronl3 proved construction which simplifies the adjustincludes as itsprincipal elements a supporting adapted to be swung upwardly to bendthe) clamped sheet of metal about theforward edge of the platen.Movement of the platen l2 toward and away from the bed H is effected bylever mechanisms M located at opposite ends of the brake.

It will be noted that the platen I2 is provided withacontinuous forwardbending edge formed by a wear plate I5 which is utilized in bendingplane sheets of metal. In order to condition the brake for bending boxforms and the like,

a plurality of detachable fingers l6 (Fig. 3) may be secured thereto atsuitable intervals. The brakes illustrated herein embody an improvedform of mountingfor the platen by means. of which it may be supported atthe requisite height above the bed to accommodate the bending fingers.

.In the particular construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,the end frames Ii! are formed from portions of angle iron having aT-shaped cross section. Thus, the horizontal top member of each frameincludes a vertically extending central web I! and inwardly andoutwardly extending horizontal flanges 18 and I9 (Fig. 5).. The oppositeends of the bed H are supported on these end frames, the bed structureincluding a horizontal plate 20 (Fig. 3) with its opposite endsoverlying the top flanges of the end frames and a vertical front plate2! overlying the. upper front portions of the-end frames. The forwardedge of the top bed plate 20 is reenforced bya web 2?. and a replaceablewear plate 23 is preferably positioned at the forward edge of the topbed plate 2!]. r l

Brackets designated generally by the numeral 2 1 are positioned at theopposite ends of the brake and form a part of the supporting structurefor the platen 12. These brackets are illustrated in the form ofcastings having forwardly ex tending angularly disposed arms 25 and 26(Fig. 2) the upper. arm 25 being fashioned with an inwardly projectingflange 21 which overlies the off and the set screws 29 adjusted for thedesired shifting of the brackets 24. The bolts 28 are then tightenedagain to hold the brackets in their adjusted positions. ing of theslackened bolts 28, which takes place The resultant shiftduring theadjustment shifting of the brackets for supporting the pivot pins insuch manner as to facilitate the adjustment of the pivot points as wellas to insure free movement of the platen irrespective of endwisetilting; thereof. This at"- rangement includes in general theutilization of bifurcated supporting yokes 32 defining'upward ly'extending openended guideways 33.. The squared ends of the pivot. pins36 are arranged for free verticalsliding. movement in these guideways.Consequentlyin View of-the double guideway'suppor t at each end and freesliding movement of the pivots, there will be no binding in the pivotalconnection-even though. the platen. I2 may be tilted; slightly in. thecourse of its operation. The bracket yokes 32 are in turn mounted inlaterally projecting U-shaped yokes 34 formed onthe outer Sides of theend brackets.- 24 and. a pair ofscrews 35 (Fig; 2): serveto.adjustthe-posit-ion of the yokes. 32; transversely of the. bed so thatthe forward edge oi thev platen may be broughtinto exact registry with.theforward edge ofthe bed. Bolts 35. passing throughslots in the.bottoms of. the yokes 34. serve to hold the brackets 32 in theiradjusted position. Furthermore. vertical adjustment of. the pivot. pinsin may be had. by adjusting, screws 31 threaded in their outerendsandbearing against the bottoms of; the, guideways. 33. It will thus beseen that the position of the pivotal. axis for the platen i2 may be.adjustedbcth horizontally. and vertically withgreat nicetyr In addition,an. arrangement has been provided for adjusting the height of theplaten. 12 above the bed! i. As was previously noted, this adjustment isparticularly usefulwhen' auxiliary bending fingers such as. the fingersit are attached to the platen forbox bending operation. This arrangementincludes in general an adjustable pin and slot connection between theends of the platen and. the links 39. Two parallel" slots 38 (Fig. 2)are formed in each of the links 30, these slots beinginclined withrespect to the bottom of. the platen. Laterally projecting pins 39arranged at the forward and rear ends of the bottom of the platen areinserted in the slots 38. For si'mplicity'and ruggedness ofconstruction, these pins are. preferably welded in position at thelower. corners of the triangular box-like platen structure (Fig. 3). Itwill thus be seen that, as thepinsts are slid alongthe slots 38', theplaten I'Z will be moved not only upwardly but also rearwardly. I Theplaten is locked in its-adjusted position. on the brackets 30 by meansof nuts 40 threadedon the pins 39 andbearing against lock Washers 4ihavingitransverse projections 42 (Fig. 4) on their inner faces-whichinterfit with complementary recesses 43 formed in the guideways rear endportions 45 adapted to fit within a complementary undercut groove 46 inthe bottom of the platen. A clamping plate 41 detachably connected tothe fingers overlies the front. face of the wear plate 15 and holds thefingers firmly in position.

In the operation of the brake, the platen I2 is manipulated by thelinkage mechanisms I4 which include counterweighted upwardly extendingopcrating levers 48 (Fig. 2) pivoted on the end brackets 24 at 42L Thelower ends of the operating arms 48 are U-shaped and receive the lowerends of linksfiii which are pivoted thereto at'5l, pivots 49 and 5!being eccentrically disposed, thereby constituting a toggle linkage. Theupper ends of the links 50.. are pivotally connected. at 52 to the.forward ends of the. links 30. It will be noted that the links 59 arecomposed of alined pins. threaded in a central sleeve 5|] which servesto adjust their effective. length. As the operating levers 43 are swungin a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) the platen I2 is alsomovedin a-clockwise direction about its pivots 3i. Counterclockwise orforward movement of the arms A8 is limited. by adjustable stop screws 48(Fig. 2) threaded in suitable bosses on the brackets 2.4 and contactingthe lower ends of the linkage arms 48.

, The apron l3, hingedly connected to the bed and operable to bend thesheet of metal secured between the bed and platen, consists in generalof a normally depending leaf 53 supported with its upper rear edgesubstantially coincident with the upper front edge of the bed wear plate23. At each end of the leaf 53 is bolted a hinge strap 5'4 enlargedandforked at its upperend'to receive a stud 55 projecting from thebracket 24. The strap 54' is attached to the-stud by a pin project'- ingthrough the stud and forked end of the strap.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the hinge axis of the apron coincides with thefront corner of the bed wear'pl'ate 2-3" so that the upper edge of theleaf 53, which aifects the bending, will remain the same'distance fromthe corner of the wear plate 23 as the apron is swung about its axis.Swinging movement is imparted to the apron by depending" bars or manualoperating handles 56 (Fig. 1) and suitable 'counterweights 51 carriedbyupwardly projecting arms 58 are preferably providedtherein;

In perfonningi some bending. operations it is desirable that theapronb'e swung only a part of the Way toward the platen l2? so as tobend the sheet at some predetermined" angle. In order to facilitate thistype of bending, rods 59' (Fig. 2) are pivoted to the lower ends of theapron straps 5'5; these rods being freely slidable in aperturedrotatable pins'tfi on the brackets 2'4. Adjustable stops 6! threaded onthe rods 59 contact the pins Giito limit upward movement of the apron atany'sel'ected point.

l'nthe operation of the bending brake described above,theinitial'adjustment of the upper apron edge with respect to the bedi's'had by adjusting the set screws it to shift the end brackets 24'either transversely Or vertically after having slacked ofi the bolts 28.When the set screws 29 have been set for the desired clearance betweenthe bracket 24" and the end frame, the bracket is-secured firmly in suchposition by the bolts 28.

Similarly, the initial adjustment of the bending edge of theplaten withrespect to the forward edge of the bed is effected by changing thepoints of pivotal mounting of the platen through the medium of adjustingscrews 35 and 31. platen I2 is then raised by the operating levers 48and a sheet of metal clamped between the platen andbed, whereupon theapron is swung upplaten may. again be adjusted by the screws 35 and 31.The bending operations are then performed in the usual manner.

The bending brake illustrated in Fig. 6 is, in general, similar inconstructionfto that heretofore described but is somewhat lighter incon- .struction and is particularly adapted for use with lighter gaugesheets of metal. This brake ineludes and members Ill formed of angleiron and supporting the opposite ends of a bed plate I! having agenerally L-shaped cross section with a wear plate 23 inset in itsforward edge. A platen If identicalin construction with the platen l2,described above, is supported for swinging movement toward and away fromthe bed and links 38* pivoted at their rear ends in. brackets 52. Asuitable toggle linkage it substantially identical with that describedabove, is utilized for moving platen intoiand out of clampingposition.An apron not shown) is hinged on the forward ends of the brackets H bypins 53 and may be swung toward away from the platen to bend a clampedsheet of metal inthe usual manner.

The br shown 6 differs from that iilustrat in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,principally in that simplified adjustable connection has been providedfor securing the platen w to its associated supporting links 36 In thisconstruction, parallel inclined slots 64 are formed in the links (it Theupper ends of these slots are undercuter recessed, as indicated at .55,so thatlatorally projecting 39 secured to the ends of a platen andinserted inthe slots 64 will drop into the when moved to the upper endsof the slots. Consequently, ordinary washers 6B and nuts 61 threaded onthe pins 39 may be utilized to clamp the platen 62? either in itslowered position shown infull lines in Fig. 6 or in its raised positionshown in dot-dash lines. When in the raised position indicated,auxiliary bending fingers maybe attached to the platen in the samemanner as described above.

Although certain particular embodiments of the invention have been shownand described in some detail for purposes of illustration, there is nointention to thereby limit the invention to suohpreferred embodimentsbut, on the other the appended claims are intended to cover allmodifications within the spirit and scope o l the invention. i I claimas my invention:

l 1. ,A bending brake comprising, in combination,

a supporting framework, a bed carried by said framework, a platenarranged above said bed for swinging movement toward and away from thesame, said platen presenting a continuous bendingedge for the bending ofplain sheets, auxiliarybending fingers adapted to be detachably aselected height above said bed and displaced a.

corresponding distance rearwardly thereof, whereby said platen may be.readily positioned with either said continuous bending edge or saidauxiliary fingers in operative relation with said bed.

2. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a supporting framework, abed carried by said framework, a platen arranged above said bed forswinging movement toward and away from. the same, links pivotallymounted on said framework, adjacent the opposite ends of said platen,each of said links having a slot therein inclined with respect to theplane of the lower side of said platen, means supporting said links withthe slotted portionsthereof above said bed,

. and means including projections on said platen insertedlin said slotsfor adjustably supporting said platen on said links at a selected heightabove said bed. l

3. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a supporting framework, abed carried by said framework, a platen disposed above said bed forswinging movement toward and away from the same, said platen being ofbox-like construction and generally triangular incross section, linkspivotally mounted on said framework adjacent the opposite ends of saidplaten, each of said links having a pair of parallel slots formedtherein inclined with respect to the plane of the lower side of saidplaten, means supporting said links with the slotted portions thereofabove said bed, andmeans including laterally projecting pins secured inthe lower corners of each triangularend of said platen and inserted insaid slots foradjustably supporting said platen on said links at aselected height above said bed.

4. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a supporting framework, abed carried by said framework, a platen disposed above said bed andarranged for swinging movement toward and away from the same, linkspivotally mounted on said framework adjacent the opposite ends of saidplaten, each of said links having a slot therein inclined with respectto the plane of the lower side of said platen, means supporting saidlinks with the slotted portions thereof above said bed, projections onoppositeends of said platen inserted in said slots and adapted .tosupport said platen closely adjacent said bed when disposed in the lowerendsof said slots, and means including lock washers on said projectionshaving teeth thereon adapted to coact with complementary recessesadjacent the upper ends of said slots for detachably maintaining saidplaten in an elevated position with respect to said bed.

in inclined with respect to the plane ofthelower side of said platen,means supporting; said links with the slotted portions thereof abovesaid bed, and projections on opposite ends ofsaid platen inserted insaid slots and adapted. to support said platen closely adjacent said bedwhen dis posed in the lower ends of said slots, said slotshavingdownwardly curved upper end portions adapted to engage said pinsto maintain said platen in elevated position with respect to said bed.

6. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a supporting framework, abed carried by said framework, a platen disposed above said bed andadaptedv to cooperate therewith to clamp a sheet of metal therebetween',bifurcated open ended upwardly facing yokes on said framework adjacentthe ends of said platen, pivot pins disposed' in said yokes, and meansfor journaling said platen on. the intermediate portions of said pinsbetween the sides of said bifurcated yokes. 7. In a bending brake thecombination of a bed, a platen located abovexsaid bed, means ineluding acontinuous bending edge disposed along the forward portion of saidplaten for conditioning the same to bend plain sheets, means including aplurality of removable fingers fashioned to I extend downwardly andforwardly from said platen when secured thereto for conditioning saidplatenfor the bending of boxiorms, means supporting said platen forswinging movement toward and away from said bed, said last named -meansincluding slotted plates disposed at 0-pbring either said continuousbending ed'geor said fingers exactly into the position desired, and acooperating bending apron swingably mounted on said bed.

8. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a bed and platen adaptedto clamp a sheet of metal therebetween, means formingv a continuousbending edge. on said platen for. the bending of plain sheets, fingersadapted to be carried by said platen to providea discontinuous bendingedge for the bending of boxes, a platen supporting member, meanspivotally' supporting said member for swinging movement or. said platentoward and away from said-bed'for the. clamping of a metalsheet'therebetween,,and means forming an adjustable connection between saidmember-and said platen independent of said pivotal means for adjustingthe position of, said platen above said bed both horizontally andvertically to accommodate saidv fingers.

9; A bending brakecomprising, in combination, a bed and-platen adaptedto clamp a sheet of metal therebetween, means forming a continuousbending edge on saidplaten for the bend.- ing of plain sheets, fingersadapted to be carried by said platen to provide a discontinuous bendingedge for the bending of boxes, a pivot located adjacent the rear of. thebed, an arm projecting a substantial. distance generally forwardly from10. A bending; brake comprising, in. combination, a bed and platenadapted to clamp a sheet ofmetal therebetween, means forming acontinuous bending edge on said platen for the bending of plain sheets,fingers adapted to be carried by said platen to-providea discontinuousbending edge for the bending of boxes, a pivot located adjacent,therear; of the bed, an arm projecting a substantial distance generallyforwardly from said pivotand swirl-gable about the same toward and awayfrom. said bed, means forming a vertically adjustable connection betweensaid arm and.- platenv and. at av point displaced a substantial distanceforwardly from said pivot toward the iront of; the bedv foralternatively supporting said platen either in a position to aline saidcontinuous bending. edge in operative relation with said bed oralternatively at a substantial distance above said bedv and with saidfingers in operative relation with said bed, and meansfor adjusting saidpivot toward and away from the front of the bed to accomplish anaccurate alinement between the bed and the fingers or continuous bendingedge.

JOHN JENSEN.

p CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,190,859. 7 February 20, l9LLO.

' JOHN JENSEN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent. requiring correction as follows: Page 1,second column, line h 9, strike out the words "positions of the" andinsert the, same before "brackets" in line 50; page 2, second column,line J 8, for "affects" read effects; line 55, for "therein" readthereon; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of April, A. D. l9h0.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

